Another Championship Week has come and gone. It was glorious for half of us while offering misery to the other half. This is why we play Fantasy Football. I was fortunate enough to take home a title, and I hope you were able to as well. It’s been a pleasure breaking down takeaways from each week for you in 2023, and I look forward to many more in 2024. Let’s look at Week 17 takeaways.
Want more data-driven stats and tools to help you win your fantasy league? Check out the Razzball Fantasy Football premium subscriptions for $0.00 upfront with our 3-day free trial!
QBs
- Lamar Jackson came away as the MVP in the Championship Week as the highest-scoring player, completing 18/21 for 321 yards with five passing touchdowns, tying his career-high, while rushing for 35 yards. This one will be remembered by many, but this will be the last we see of Jackson until the NFL postseason.
- Jordan Love was probably only started in Superflex or 2 QBs league but he was QB2 in Week 17. Love threw for 256 yards with three TDs and rushed for a score. Love and the Packers enter Week 18 with an outside shot at the playoffs against Bears defense that has allowed third most passing TDs to QBs this season.
- Kyler Murray had a plus-matchup with the Eagles, who allow the second most points to opposing QBs, and came up clutch for those who gambled on him. Murray completed 25/31 for 232 yards with three touchdowns while rushing for 24 yards. Murray was QB3 for Week 17.
- Justin Fields reminded the fantasy community how good he can be after throwing for 268 yards with one touchdown while rushing for 45 yards and a score.
- The top 3 QBs entering Week 17, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, and Dak Prescott, did not finish in the top 5 of QBs in Week 17. They performed well, finishing within the top 10 of QBs, but underperformed by their standards. They didn’t deliver the week-winning performance you’d hope for in the Championship Week.
WRs
- CeeDee Lamb went nuclear against a beatable Lions secondary on Saturday night, catching a career-high 13 passes for another career-high 227 yards and one touchdown while matching a career-high 17 targets. He was by far the WR1.
- Davante Adams was the WR2 in Week 17 in a tough matchup against Indianapolis, who allowed the seventh-fewest points to WRs. Adams saw the most targets by a WR in 2023 with 21, securing 13 balls for 126 yards with two touchdowns.
- DJ Moore was heavily targeted by Fields and finished with 9 receptions for 159 yards and one TD on 13 targets. In what was supposed to be a less-than-desirable matchup against Atlanta, who allowed the second-fewest points to WRs. The Bears end their season against the Packers, who are middle of the pack against WRs, making Moore and Fields solid options in Week 18.
- In the most shocking stat of Week 17, the Packers (Jayden Reed and Bo Melton) and the Giants (Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson) were the only teams who had two WRs finish in the top 10. There’s a good chance Reed was the only WR started out of the four but I can see scenarios where none of these WRs were started. Crazy.
- Top WRs Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Stefon Diggs, Justin Jefferson, Cooper Kupp, and Jamar Chase were bust in Week 17.
RBs
- Kyren Williams was the waiver wire pickup of the season after finishing as the RB1 in Week 17. Williams tallied 20 carries for 87 with three touchdowns and added two catches for 14 yards. Don’t be surprised if Williams is a first-round pick next season. Williams or any Rams skill players may not play against SF as they clinched a Wild Card berth.
- Isiah Pacheco cleared the concussion protocol at the right time for the Chiefs and fantasy shareholders alike. Pacheco had his best game of the season, finishing as the RB2, rushing 18 times for 130 yards and caught seven passes for 35 yards with a touchdown. He was a gutsy start for the fantasy community with a late kickoff while holding a questionable tag, but it paid off for those who put faith in the Chiefs RB.
- James Connor had one of the worst matchups on paper, but he delivered with 128 rushing yards and one score on 26 attempts and secured a touchdown catch of five yards. Connor should put up similar stats against the Seahawks in Week 18, who just allowed the Steelers backfield to rush for a combined 197 yards and three scores.
- Travis Etienne Jr. broke out for his best game since Week 8, rushing 16 times for 102 with two touchdowns and two catches for 16 yards. Etienne faced the Panthers, who allow the fourth-most points to RBs, to the chagrin of Etienne shareholders who patiently waited for this matchup. The Jaguars face the Titans next week in a must-win game and should rely on Etienne again.
- De’Von Achane had the Dolphins backfield to himself and did not disappoint with 107 rushing yards, adding four receptions for 30 yards and one TD. Expect lots of touches next week against Buffalo as the two teams battle for the AFC East title and postseason berth.
- Christian McCaffrey left the game in the third quarter with a calf strain and ended up with his lowest point production of the season. A devastating blow to CMC shareholders. Elijah Mitchell was the next man up, rushing 17 times for 80 yards and one score. Mitchell looks to get all the work he can handle in Week 18 against the Rams as the Niners clinched the first seed in the NFC.
- Notable RBs who had forgettable Week 17 games were Saquan Barkley, Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Austin Ekeler, Derrick Henry, Tony Pollard and Alvin Kamara, D’Andre Swift, James Cook, and Rachaad White.
TEs
- TEs produced modest numbers in Week 17. Five out of the 12 highest-scoring TEs were automatic starters in Championship Week. Most notably Isaiah Likely, David Njoku, Dallas Goedert, Sam LaPorta and Evan Engram.
- Juwan Johnson was TE1 with eight receptions for 90 yards with one touchdown on a season-high 12 targets.
- TE stalwarts Travis Kelce and George Kittle only caught three passes with no TDs.
Week 18
If you’re still playing in Week 18, I would recommend changing your championship week next season. However, if you roster anyone on the Ravens or 49ers, they’re a good chance they will not play meaningful downs in Week 18. There’s even a chance some teams who are eliminated from the postseason play their backup.
Some QB options would be Joe Flacco at Cincinnati, Baker Mayfield at Carolina, or Derek Carr vs Falcons.
RBs to consider Elijah Mitchell vs. Rams, Jamaal Williams vs. Falcons, or Justice Hill or Melvin Gordon vs. Steelers.
Options at WR, Greg Dortch vs Seahawks, Jerry Jeudy at Las Vegas, or Slayton vs Eagles.
Thanks for your time checking out my Week 17 takeaways. While you are here, check out more fantasy goodness at Razzball. Follow me on Twitter/X @Jefferson__21. Like and subscribe for more fantasy football content on YouTube @RazzballFantasy.
If I did not mention your favorite team or players, please leave some comments or questions! I am here to answer any questions you may have. Cheers!
